KATSINA — Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed that providing healthcare for all remains a top priority of his administration, as the state expands its Free Medicare Programme and takes delivery of medical commodities donated by Project CURE.
Speaking on Thursday at the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of free medicare commodities and medical equipment to hospitals across the state, Governor Radda said the intervention marked another milestone in his administration’s efforts to strengthen the health sector through strategic partnerships and sustained investment.
“Today’s event marks another important milestone in our administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the healthcare system and improving access to quality healthcare for our people. It also reflects the strong partnership between the Katsina State Government and Project CURE in our shared commitment to saving lives and improving health outcomes,” the governor said.
Governor Radda said the medicines and equipment would improve service delivery, strengthen the capacity of hospitals, and provide healthcare workers with the tools needed to offer quality medical services.
He added that the intervention would also reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families who struggle to afford the cost of treatment.
“Our administration believes that every citizen deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of financial status or place of residence. This conviction continues to guide our investments in the health sector,” he said.
The governor disclosed that his administration had increased funding for the state’s Free Medicare Programme by 207 per cent, allowing more eligible residents to benefit from free healthcare services across Katsina.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms at the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, DMSA, including the completion of a pharmaceutical production line, expansion of logistics capacity through additional delivery trucks, and the commencement of the Drug Revolving Fund Programme in the state’s 361 upgraded Primary Healthcare Centres.
Governor Radda further revealed that additional personnel had been approved for recruitment to strengthen warehousing, pharmaceutical production, quality assurance, logistics and inventory management.
“These initiatives form part of our broader healthcare reform agenda aimed at improving health infrastructure, strengthening the healthcare supply chain and ensuring that government investments translate into better healthcare services for our people,” he said.
The governor commended Project CURE for its continued partnership and urged all benefiting health facilities to ensure that the medicines and equipment were properly managed and used strictly for their intended purposes.
“Our administration will continue to monitor their distribution and utilisation because government resources must always serve the people for whom they are intended,” he added.
DMSA Records 400% Growth
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, Pharmacist Fatima Shuaibu, said the agency had witnessed remarkable growth since 2023.
She disclosed that the agency’s workforce had increased from 34 to 70 personnel, while the Drug Revolving Fund had grown by 400 per cent. Facility coverage had also expanded by 900 per cent, from 50 to about 200 health facilities across the state.
Shuaibu said the agency had established pharmaceutical-grade warehouses and commenced the production of extemporaneous pharmaceutical products, which currently contribute about 10 per cent of its internally generated revenue.
“The Free Medicare Programme has increased by 207 per cent and has now been expanded to cover more pregnant women, children under five, malaria treatment, as well as free snake venom and anti-rabies treatment across the state. We are the first to implement this initiative,” she said.
She added that the agency had introduced an electronic ordering system and procured additional vehicles to improve last-mile delivery of medicines.
According to her, the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health recently assessed the agency and awarded it an overall score of 71 per cent, moving it from “Emerging” to “Maturing – Not Ready to Integrate” level.
She said the agency’s pharmaceutical production plant was nearing completion and would commence production of six oral dosage formulations before the end of the year.
Shuaibu appealed to the governor to support the provision of reliable electricity for pharmaceutical-grade warehouses and the establishment of regional warehouses to improve medicine distribution to remote primary healthcare facilities.
Dignitaries at the event included Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe; Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua; and General Manager, Katsina State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Nasir Mohammed Shehu.
